Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They compete in the National Hockey LeagueNHLThe National Hockey League (NHL) is a men’s professional ice hockey league with clubs in the United States and Canada. Founded in Montreal in 1917, it comprises 32 teams and awards the Stanley Cup to its playoff champion.Open the full entry (NHL) and play at Rogers Place downtown.
Contents13 sections
Key facts
1972–1973A founding WHA club
The Oilers were a founding World Hockey Association (WHA) team. Playing as the Alberta Oilers, they beat the Ottawa Nationals 7–4 in their first game on October 11, 1972.[1]
The team adopted the Edmonton Oilers name for 1973–74.[2]
1978–1979Gretzky and entry into the NHL
Edmonton acquired Wayne Gretzky from the Indianapolis Racers early in 1978–79. In 1979, it joined the NHL with three other WHA teams and retained Gretzky.[1]
1983–1987Becoming champions
Edmonton lost its first Stanley Cup Final to the Islanders in 1983, beat them for the 1984 title, and won again in 1985 and 1987.[3]
1988–1990Later dynasty years
Titles in 1988 and 1990 gave Edmonton five Stanley Cups in seven years.[3]
Gretzky was traded to Los Angeles in 1988.[4]
1996–1998Keeping the team in Edmonton
In 1996, a season-ticket campaign led by businesspeople including Cal Nichols reached the sales target needed to keep the team. The Edmonton Investors Group bought the club in 1998, keeping it in Edmonton.[5]
2006Return to the Final
In 2006, Edmonton lost a seven-game Final to Carolina.[3]
2008Daryl Katz acquisition
2015Drafting Connor McDavid
Edmonton drafted Connor McDavid first overall in 2015.[7]
2016Rogers Place opens
Approved by City Council in 2013 and begun in 2014, Rogers Place officially opened on September 8, 2016, as the Oilers’ new home.[8]
2024–2025Consecutive Final appearances
Edmonton lost the 2024 Final to Florida in seven games.[3]
The teams met again in 2025, with Florida winning again.[9]
Home arena
Rogers Place is in downtown Edmonton at 10220 104 Ave NW and also hosts concerts and other events.[8]
Related Organizations, Websites, and Public Accounts
Edmonton Oilers: Official website: https://www.nhl.com/oilers (opens in a new window)[10]
Edmonton Oilers: X: https://www.twitter.com/edmontonoilers (opens in a new window)[10]
Edmonton Oilers: YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is Google’s video-sharing and creator platform, founded in 2005 by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim and acquired by Google in 2006. Built around video uploading, viewing, and creator earnings, the platform has developed Shorts, YouTube Music, Premium, YouTube TV, and products for children, and is headquartered in San Bruno, California, United States.Open the full entry: https://www.youtube.com/oilers (opens in a new window)[10]
Sources
- The World Hockey Association at 50 (opens in a new window)
- Edmonton Exhibition Lands: Area Redevelopment Plan Phase II, Historical Report (opens in a new window)
- 2025 Stanley Cup Final: Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers (opens in a new window)
- Aug. 9: Gretzky traded to Kings by Oilers (opens in a new window)
- Oilers History: The Day Edmonton Saved the Franchise (opens in a new window)
- It’s official — NHL Oilers sold to Edmonton billionaire Daryl Katz (opens in a new window)
- June 26: Ovechkin, Malkin go first, second in 2004 NHL Draft (opens in a new window)
- Timeline (opens in a new window)
- NHL Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Champions Edition — June 18, 2025 (opens in a new window)
- Edmonton Oilers — official website (opens in a new window)